The Klostertal and its places
The picturesque Klostertal is located in the west of Austria, in the province of Vorarlberg.
The valley begins in the Alpine town of Bludenz and ends after a good forty kilometers at the border with Tyrol: at the Arlberg Pass.
Many villages belonging to three municipalities in the valley form the Klostertal:
Time turns slower in the Klostertal. The impressive nature sets the pace – and therefore the valley is a dreamland for hikers, cyclists, skiers and lovers of good food.
The Klostertal is the home of the music group „Die Klostertaler“ and is known for its rugged peaks of the Northern Limestone Alps, which make the heart of hikers and mountaineers beat faster. The south side, on the other hand, is a paradise for skiers: the Sonnenkopf ski area – exclusively with natural snow – is an insider tip for freeriders and classic deep snow skiers.
The Arlberg is not only one of the best ski regions in the world. The Arlberg stands for: Fascination. Passion. Sport at the highest level. Yet the Arlberg is not a mountain at all. It is the name of an area between Vorarlberg and Tyrol, which was created for fun in the snow.
Dalaas
Situated in the middle of the monastery valley, nestled among rolling hills and mighty mountains, miners once searched for silver in this idyllic area in the 14th century. Today, the village is a successful blend of traditional Klostertal houses and bold, alpine architecture, for which Vorarlberg is known. Mass tourism is alien to the place – and therefore ideal for individual tourists and families with children who are looking for peace and relaxation.
Forest on the Arlberg
Wald am Arlberg belongs to the municipality of Dalaas and is situated at an altitude of one thousand meters above sea level. The romantic village is considered a sunny balcony , because most of the houses are located on the south side of a slope. In summer you can still experience the work of mountain farmers here. In winter, the village becomes a fairy-tale white landscape, because the Klostertal has the reputation of being particularly snow-sure. On the north side of Wald am Arlberg, the „Sonnenkopf“ ski arena opens up with slopes down to the valley.
Klösterle
The place name derives from „Clösterlin“ or „monastery“; Danöfen indicates „oven“.
Klösterle got its importance with the traffic over the Arlberg (since the earliest Middle Ages). Count Hugo I of Montfort founded the Johanniterhospiz in 1218 – with the obligation to give the traveler shelter, fire and water. At first, the Habsburgs ruled here. Klösterle belonged to Bavaria between 1805-1814 then to Austria. Since 1861 Klösterle belongs to the province of Vorarlberg. There were still smelting furnaces in Klösterle until 1610.
Langen am Arlberg
A small village that still has a train station. Connection to the Arlberg tourist area (Stuben, St. Christoph, Zürs, Lech, Warth. West portal Arlberg railroad tunnel and Arlberg road tunnel).
The origin of Langen is closely connected with the traffic over the Arlberg. Langen gained great importance with the construction of the Arlberg railway tunnel. About 4000 workers were housed in a railroad settlement near the station. The name „Bird Town“ indicates that Italian workers there practiced intensive bird breeding. During the construction of the Arlberg road tunnel, about 200 workers were housed here.
Innerbraz
Origin Rhaeto-Romanic; Brates was the word for „meadow“, later „Bradze“. The name Innerbraz is obvious because the village is located in the valley.
The village is located in the outer Klostertal before Bludenz, directly under the Roggelskopf, between the Schmiedtobel in the east and the Mühletobel, (Frattetobel) in the west.
Possibly the oldest settlement in the monastery valley, first mentioned in a document in 1282. The large, shallowly sloping debris and alluvial cones from the north provided very favorable conditions for agricultural development and settlement on the sunny side.
Außerbraz
Rhaeto-Romanic origin: „prates“=meadow, later „Bradze“. The name Außerbraz is obvious because the village is located out of the valley.
Here the Klostertal between Mühletobel in the east and Grubsertobel in the west north of the Alfenz shows its full width.
Außerbraz belongs to the municipality of Bludenz.
The large, shallowly sloping Mur debris and alluvial cones (Mühlebach, Bartelstobel, Winkeltobel Almatobel, Tschempatobel, Grubsertobel) from the north offered very favorable conditions for agricultural development and settlement on the sunny side.
